Three-time Olympian Kara Lynn Joyce has written an open letter to USA Swimming, asking the sport’s governing body in the U.S. to refrain from using the title “LEAD Summit” in its leadership seminars.
Joyce, who founded the LEAD Summit in April 2017, as part of the LEAD Sports Co., said that having the same name of a similar event has infringed on her rights as a business owner and caused confusion.
“We launched the LEAD Summit in April 2017. A few months later, USA Swimming launched She LEADS. I had a lot of people reach out to me after that. People thought USA Swimming was promoting it. Even I mixed it up when I first saw it. It had similar colors, and obviously the name. I reached out to USA Swimming, I asked them to change the name to avoid confusion. This is the name of my business,” Kara Lynn Joyce told Swimming World in an exclusive interview. “They said their acronym for LEAD was different from ours, which still is confusing.”
Swimming World reached out to USA Swimming for comment, but has received no comment or statement at this time. We will continue to update the story as more information becomes available.
The overall name of the event is still the same, despite the acronym being different. Joyce’s company’s LEAD stands for Leadership, Empowerment and Athletic Development.
USA Swimming’s LEAD stands for Leadership, Education and Diversity.
“We have had so many conversations over the years because of the sheer confusion it is causing our customers and their swimmers,” Joyce said. “It pains me to have to do this. I loved to represent USA Swimming. I just want to have a decent conversation. I have tried so many times to handle this quietly. Every time, it was no, no, no. Not even a conversation.
“In September, our company was going through a new branding. Our 2020 LEAD Summit was postponed because of COVID-19. USA Swimming was having a digital LEAD Summit, which was a week after our postponed event was supposed to be. We had to do a cease and desist. We did initial outreach to USA Swimming and they gave me the runaround. I feel like every other option has been exhausted. This is the last thing I wanted to do. I have so much respect for the entire establishment of this sport. It really does pain me that we are in this position. It is so unfortunate that this is the program that I came through and represented. I hate this.”
Joyce’s first LEAD Summit was launched on April 10, 2017.
“On behalf of LEAD Sports Co. and the LEAD Summit, I urge you to stop using “LEAD Summit” to promote your educational seminars for teenage swimmers. Since formally launching in April 2017, the LEAD Summit has mentored, supported, and educated hundreds of teenage girl swimmers through our yearly Summits and online Academy. The LEAD Summit is my property, as is my company, LEAD Sports Co. As a US National Team alumna and 3-time Olympian, I did not anticipate conflict from the governing body I represented for 21 years when I built my business in the service of young female athletes. The decision to infringe on the intellectual and creative property of an alumna of your organization, as well as a woman-owned small business, is inexcusable for a national governing body of your size and recognition,” the letter read in part. “Representing the United States of America as part of the National Team is one of the highest honors of our participation in the sport. This relationship should not end upon our retirement from the pool. In order for USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation to successfully and meaningfully achieve the mission of engaging your National Team alumni, your actions need to match your intentions. This is your chance to do the right thing by the LEAD Sports Co., the LEAD Summit, and one of your longtime National Team swimmers to show my fellow alumni that you will continue to support and respect them both during and after their careers in the pool.”
USA Swimming’s event started in June of 2017.
“By June our first LEAD Summit was already sold out,” Joyce said. “They gave me a courtesy call that they were starting this. But they did not tell me what they were naming the event. I can’t continue to grow my business while there is someone else operating with the same name and the same brand.
“This could have easily been resolved privately. This is my last resort. If there was another option I would do it in an instant. I am only asking for them not to have a similar event with the same name. I am supportive of them running their programming, but I can’t have this name infringement that hurts my business.”
The full open letter written by Kara Lynn Joyce can be read here.
Good for Kara Lynn! Why is the USA Swimming Board let the employees do what they want and bully people, especially Olympians??? People like Tim Hinchey, Mike Unger and the lawyer need to go!